Victoria's Emergency Housing & Basics Fund
Donation protected
I'm raising money to support my friend Victoria's safe housing & basic living costs while she builds a new life in Philadelphia. It's not easy to be young, black, and transgendered without the support of family. Please read Victoria's story below, which she's helped me write, and join me and my friends and family in pulling a safety net together for this motivated, shining person.
We're looking for:
1. MONEYY (got $5, $50, $150, $500?)
2. TEMPORARY HOUSING OFFERS (got a futon or a spare room for a couple nights this week or next?)
3. Some stuff, listed at the tail end of this post
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Victoria is in her early 20s now, but I met her more than a decade ago, when she was one of the most ambitious, friendly & dependable teens in my after school program. Then as now, she had big dreams, detailed plans, a lot of cards stacked against her, and a very positive attitude. She kept in touch with me as she moved back and forth between Philadelphia's foster care system, her transphobic & dysfunctional family, shared housing, shelters, and a couple periods of incarceration.
Victoria was recently released on parole, and last week her family kicked her out of their house after another period of difficult emotional and physical abuse. She's working temp jobs and has been getting calls back on applications for interviews at several different businesses in North and West Philly. She needs a place to sleep and some help with basic expenses while she gets on her feet. Social service agencies have failed her enough times in the past that this time, I am asking my community to join me in showing her the love and solidarity that every one of us deserves.
This is a critical moment to support her safety, and we're looking to raise $5k this week to cover:
--First, last & security deposit for longterm housing
--Hostel & cheap airbnb room costs when couchsurfing doesn't come together
--Basic new household items, basic living costs and money for hormones so she can stop stretching what she's got
When we meet this goal, the final fundraising push is another $5k to help her stay on her feet:
--An economical used car
--Tuition at Community College of Philadelphia
--Savings to fall back on
We're also looking for:
--Couchsurfing & temp housing leads
--Medium & longer term housing leads
--A handmedown laptop
--Help sharing this fundraiser with your friends, family & coworkers
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
Sincerely,
Laura Smoot & friends of Victoria
We're looking for:
1. MONEYY (got $5, $50, $150, $500?)
2. TEMPORARY HOUSING OFFERS (got a futon or a spare room for a couple nights this week or next?)
3. Some stuff, listed at the tail end of this post
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Victoria is in her early 20s now, but I met her more than a decade ago, when she was one of the most ambitious, friendly & dependable teens in my after school program. Then as now, she had big dreams, detailed plans, a lot of cards stacked against her, and a very positive attitude. She kept in touch with me as she moved back and forth between Philadelphia's foster care system, her transphobic & dysfunctional family, shared housing, shelters, and a couple periods of incarceration.
Victoria was recently released on parole, and last week her family kicked her out of their house after another period of difficult emotional and physical abuse. She's working temp jobs and has been getting calls back on applications for interviews at several different businesses in North and West Philly. She needs a place to sleep and some help with basic expenses while she gets on her feet. Social service agencies have failed her enough times in the past that this time, I am asking my community to join me in showing her the love and solidarity that every one of us deserves.
This is a critical moment to support her safety, and we're looking to raise $5k this week to cover:
--First, last & security deposit for longterm housing
--Hostel & cheap airbnb room costs when couchsurfing doesn't come together
--Basic new household items, basic living costs and money for hormones so she can stop stretching what she's got
When we meet this goal, the final fundraising push is another $5k to help her stay on her feet:
--An economical used car
--Tuition at Community College of Philadelphia
--Savings to fall back on
We're also looking for:
--Couchsurfing & temp housing leads
--Medium & longer term housing leads
--A handmedown laptop
--Help sharing this fundraiser with your friends, family & coworkers
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
Sincerely,
Laura Smoot & friends of Victoria
Co-organizers (3)
Laura Smoot
Organizer
Philadelphia, PA
Victoria Shines
Beneficiary
Violet LeVoit
Co-organizer